Le'Andria Johnson was born in Palatka, Florida, to Bishop Gregory Johnson and First Lady and Pastor Sharon Johnson. She is one of two daughters, and three sons.
Le'Andria, whom was born into a musical family, began singing at age two in her father’s church, HQ Ministries in Altamonte Springs, Florida, where she continues to sing every Sunday and Wednesday morning, until she leaves to go on tour at which time her brother takes over.She went on to become the praise and worship leader within the church.
Before auditioning for the show, Johnson was a performer, producer, and singer-songwriter. Johnson, whom had three children at the time, was motivated to audition for the show by her children to give them a better life. Johnson had gone through her second divorce as was having a tough time staying financially sound. The day before she left Orlando to try out in New Orleans she lost her house to foreclosure. Her friends and family helped her get to the audition, and Johnson carried what she could and auditioned in flip flops, socks, and the clothes she had on her back. Johnson was almost eliminated because her appearance was not up to par,a sentiment expressed by two of the judges Mary Mary, especially Erica Campbell, however after performing “This is the day The Lord Hath made,” she was unanimously voted through., and given a standing ovation by Campbell.
Sunday Best
Johnson had many good performances on the show, though at times the judges and mentor Kim Burrell sensed a hesitation in her, as if there was something on her mind, that she just couldn’t quite shake off. On the eighth episode, in a conversation that made the air, Johnson told Burrell that at one point she chose death over life in a “mentor moment,” sponsored by Nationwide Insurance.
In a private conversation while being mentored Johnson told mentor Kim Burrell that there was a time that she thought she could not go on in this life, but in that moment God kept her “in the midst of it all,” which was the primary reason she chose to sing the song on episode four of the season.
In episode eight, Mentor Kim Burrell made the comment: “Le’Andria Johnson, is talented… but she’s scared.”
During the final performance show, Leandria faced off against Elder Goldwire for the title of Sunday Best. Johnson performed “I Love the Lord,” “He Was There,” and “In the Midst of It All.”
On June 20, 2010 Le’Andria Johnson was crowned the winner of and claimed the title of Sunday Best. As part of her win, she won a national recording contract, a 2010 Ford Taurus SHO, and a cash prize courtesy of Degree Nature Effects.Johnson and Elder Goldwire had taped the finale a month before with two different endings, they both appeared on 106 & Park as finalists, and she found out that she won had while back home in Orlando, watching with her family. Johnson was reported to have said, "I was like, 'For real?'. It was crazy, it was bananas, like fireworks. I’ve never seen my family so happy."
Post-Sunday Best
After winning Sunday Best, Johnson’s label, hoping to capitalize on her new-found audience, released an EP of seven songs on September 6, 2011 entitled The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson, which spawned the hit, "Jesus", the performance of which would go on to give Johnson her first Grammy nomination and subsequent win. She also co-wrote the Grammy-winning song.With the success of her first EP, Johnson became the first Sunday Best winner to release two more projects. She released a self-titled, Christmas EP on November 21, 2011, and another project known as: The Evolution of Le’Andria Johnson, on February 14, 2012.
In addition to her second EP, a 14-song album was released also on February 14, 2012 entitled: The Evolution of Le’Andria Johnson Deluxe Edition.
Philanthropy
Johnson, herself homeless at the time of her audition, did a benefit concert called “Up From the Ashes” at South Church in Lansing Michigan. The original concert date was April 1, 2011, but the concert was ultimately postponed when Johnson found out her brother had been shot and killed in Orlando Florida. She learned of the news moments before leaving for Michigan. The concert was held on May 6, 2011. Johnson's various life challenges have not deterred her ministry and anointed singing in the Christian community.
Johnson recently started IPC (Imperfect People Changing) Ministries in Atlanta, GA. Their first service was held on June 16, 2012.
A STAR IS BORN
